Double handle tool

ABSTRACT

A double handle tool that may have at least two handles disposed on opposite sides of a grasping mechanism of the tool. In one embodiment, two handles may be provided about 180 degrees from each other about the grasping mechanism of the tool. By having these two handles, greater and more even torque may be applied to the grasping mechanism of the tool as compared to conventional tools with a handle on one side of the grasping mechanism.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisionalpatent application No. 61/331,292, filed May 4, 2010, which is hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hand tools and, more particularly, tohand tools having two handles positioned on opposite sides of a graspingmechanism of the tool, allowing a user to apply even torque to thegrasping mechanism.

Referring to FIGS. 1A through 1E, current hand tools, such as a waterfilter wrench (FIG. 1A), a ratchet (FIG. 1B), a slip joint pair ofpliers (FIG. 1C), a pipe wrench (FIG. 1D), an adjustable wrench (FIG.1E) and the like, have handles 100 that extend from a grasping mechanism110 of the tool 120. Water filter wrenches, for example, may breakduring use because great force is often needed to open a water filterhousing and remove a water filter. Another factor contributing to thebreakage or unsuccessful use of conventional tools is that the forcesapplied to the grasping mechanism are uneven, coming from only one sideof the grasping mechanism.

As can be seen, there is a need for a tool that has a handleconfiguration allowing for even torque to be applied to a graspingmechanism of the tool.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a tool comprises a graspingmechanism; a first handle attached at a first side of the graspingmechanism; and a second handle attached at a second, opposite side ofthe grasping mechanism.

In another aspect of the present invention, a double handle hand toolcomprises a central grasping mechanism; a first handle extending from afirst side of the grasping mechanism; and a second handle extending froma second side of the grasping mechanism.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A through 1E are perspective views of tools according to theprior art;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a double handle tool according to anembodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 3A through 3F are perspective views of exemplary toolscorresponding to the schematic drawing of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Various inventive features are described below that can each be usedindependently of one another or in combination with other features.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a double handletool that may have at least two handles disposed on opposite sides of agrasping mechanism of the tool. In one embodiment, two handles may beprovided about 180 degrees from each other about the grasping mechanismof the tool. By having these two handles, greater and more even torquemay be applied to the grasping mechanism of the tool as compared toconventional tools with a handle on one side of the grasping mechanism.

Referring to FIG. 2, a generic tool 20 may include a grasping mechanism22 having a first handle 24 and a second handle 26 attached thereto. Thefirst and second handles 24, 26 may be disposed 180 degrees from eachother, on opposite sides of the grasping mechanism 22. As used herein,the grasping mechanism 22 may include elements that actually graspanother piece and elements that may support the elements that actuallygrasp another piece. The first handle 24 may be a conventional handle ofthe tool 20. For example, in a pair of slip joint pliers, the firsthandle 24 may include two elongated members adapted to clamp thegrasping mechanism 22 together when the two members are squeezedtogether. The second handle 26 may be a solid elongated member. Thesecond handle may not affect operation of the grasping mechanism 22. Inone embodiment, the second handle 26 may be formed integrally with thegrasping mechanism 22. In an alternate embodiment, the second handle 26may be removable from the grasping mechanism 22.

Referring to FIG. 3A, a water filter wrench 30-1 may include a graspingmechanism 32-1 and a first handle 34-1 and a second handle 36-1.

The first and second handles 34-1, 36-1 may be disposed at oppositesides of the grasping mechanism 32-1. Similar to conventional waterfilter wrenches the grasping mechanism 32-1 may include a plurality ofprotuberances 38-1 around an inner perimeter of the grasping mechanism.

Referring to FIG. 3B, a pipe wrench 30-2 may include a graspingmechanism 32-2 with a first handle 34-2 and a second handle 36-2disposed on opposite sides of the grasping mechanism 32-2. The firsthandle 34-2 may be similar to a handle of a conventional pipe wrench.

Referring to FIG. 3C, a pair of slip joint pliers 30-3 may include agrasping mechanism 32-3 with a first handle 34-3 and a second handle36-3 disposed on opposite sides of the grasping mechanism 32-3. Thefirst handle 34-3 may be similar to a handle of a conventional pair ofslip joint pliers wherein the first handle 34-3 includes a pair ofelongated members 34-3-1, 34-3-2, where squeezing the elongated memberstogether results in the closing of the grasping mechanism 32-3.

Referring to FIG. 3D, an adjustable (“monkey”) wrench 30-4 may include agrasping mechanism 32-4 with a first handle 34-4 and a second handle36-4 disposed on opposite sides of the grasping mechanism 32-4. In thisembodiment, the first handle 34-4 may be about 90 degrees clockwise fromthe position of a handle (not shown) of a conventional adjustablewrench. The second handle 36-4 may be about 90 degrees counterclockwisefrom the position of the handle of a conventional adjustable wrench.Thus, the first and second handles 34-4, 36-4 may extend about 180degrees from each other on each side of the grasping mechanism 32-4.

Referring to FIG. 3E, a ratchet 30-5 may include a grasping mechanism32-5 with a first handle 34-5 and a second handle 36-5 disposed onopposite sides of the grasping mechanism 32-5. The first handle 34-5 maybe similar to a handle of a conventional ratchet.

Referring to FIG. 3F, locking pliers 30-6 may include a graspingmechanism 32-6 with a first handle 34-6 and a second handle 36-6disposed on opposite sides of the grasping mechanism 32-6. The firsthandle 34-6 may be similar to a handle of a conventional locking pliers.

While the description of the above FIGS. 3A through 3F refers tospecific tools to which a double handle may be applied, the presentinvention may include other tools that include a grasping mechanism anda handle. For example, the present invention may include other tools,such as a pair of pliers, a socket driver, a screw driver, an open endor box end wrench, and the like.

The tool, according to some embodiments of the present invention, may bemade of plastic, wood, or metal. The metal may be steel, iron, brass, orthe like. The steel may be, for example, hot rolled steel or cold rolledsteel.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

1. A tool comprising: a grasping mechanism; a first handle attached at afirst side of the grasping mechanism; and a second handle attached at asecond side of the grasping mechanism.
 2. The tool of claim 1, whereinthe grasping mechanism is selected from the group consisting of a pairof pliers, a slip joint pair of pliers, an adjustable wrench, lockingpliers, a ratchet, a pipe wrench, a socket driver, a screw driver, and awater filter wrench.
 3. The tool of claim 1, wherein the first handle isa conventional tool handle and the second handle is a solid elongatedmember, wherein the second side is opposite of the first side, relativeto the grasping mechanism.
 4. The tool of claim 3, wherein the firsthandle includes a pair of elongated members, wherein squeezing the pairof elongated members of the first handle together causes operation ofthe grasping mechanism.
 5. The tool of claim 1, wherein the secondhandle is formed integrally with the grasping mechanism.
 6. The tool ofclaim 1, wherein the first handle extends from the grasping mechanism afirst length and the second handle extends from the grasping mechanism asecond length, wherein the first length is the same as the secondlength.
 7. The tool of claim 1, wherein the tool is a water filterwrench.
 8. A double handle hand tool comprising: a central graspingmechanism; a first handle extending from a first side of the graspingmechanism; and a second handle extending from a second, opposite side ofthe grasping mechanism.
 9. The double handle hand tool of claim 8,wherein the tool is made of plastic, wood or metal.
 10. The doublehandle hand tool of claim 9, wherein the metal is steel.